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Book Review: Oyster Jack and His Salty Tale

Sunday, January 14, 2018 - 14:27

Author Marcia G. Moore

Chesapeake author Marcia G. Moore has been studying the effects of wind on sail for more than 40 years. She and her husband Jack lived in New York and explored the Hudson River and later Long Island Sound by sailboat. In 2002, they moved to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where they now own a Boston Whaler 17, O’Day Daysailer, inflatable dinghy, canoe, kayak, and rowboat (“and a Labrador Retriever that’s suspicious of them all.”)

We recently asked Marcia some questions about her new book, “Wind and Oyster Jack,” a children’s book about Oyster Jack, his skipjack Dinah, and Wind (who’s a speaking character).

What inspired the story?

Years ago, we were driving along the New England coast, and we passed a small airport with a windsock flying. That night, I dreamed up this story, but I needed to have a reason for Jack to go sailing. It didn’t all come together until we moved to Maryland. Chesapeake Bay skipjacks are the last American boats to work under sail. They look like big white birds skimming over the water. They are beautiful!

How did you choose your artist?

Our illustrator, Heather Crow, is a well-known local artist and art teacher. We had one requirement: She had to draw a cat in every illustration to honor the memory of my very dear cat Latte. Heather doesn’t like cats, but we were persistent. Oyster Jack’s cat drawings are just wonderful. But I’m not sure if Heather wants to do a sequel with more cats.

I think this story is really about friends learning to help each other. Of course, if the story is about a boat and one of the characters is Wind, it helps to have a sailboat. I’m thinking of a new “Wind” story that might have a powerboat. Don’t tell Heather.

Where can we buy your book?

The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels sells “Wind,” and it’s available now at the Annapolis Maritime Museum, Crackerjacks, The News Center in Easton, and other local stores.